Are we overdiagnosing Mental Health Conditions?

Neuropsychiatrist Dr Alastair Santhouse discusses his concerns that the huge increase we are seeing in mental health diagnoses across the western world, is now medicalizing emotions and feelings that have previously been seen as part of the normal human experience.

He argues in a new book No More Normal – Mental Health in an Age of Over-diagnosis, published by Granta - this is leading to an increasing number of people taking psychiatric medication. Today in England alone over eight million adults take an antidepressant every year. This is creating an unprecedented demand on health services, increasing waiting lists, which most worryingly of all, risks leaving those with severe mental illnesses, who really need the support unable to get it.

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The host of the podcast, Liz Tucker is an award winning medical journalist and former BBC producer and director. You can follow Liz on X and read further information about the podcast on her Substack newsletter.

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